Vegetable Seeds

This is the ultimate golden beet. Its roots are smooth and orange/red on the outside with intensely golden flesh beneath and subtle banding. The green tops are tall and strong — not to mention sweet and delicious. This gorgeous beet looks amazing when pickled.

How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days, depending on soil temperature. Optimal soil temperature: 10-26°C.

How To Grow, Seeding: Sow 1cm deep, 5-10cm apart in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm apart when seedlings are 5cm tall. Eat any thinned plants, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

Matures in 53 days.

Approx 210 seeds

Beta vulgaris. Can’t choose which beet to grow? Try this multicoloured beet blend. It represents the best and brightest of our beet varieties for high performance and great flavour. Get the most variety out of this colourful, tasty, dynamic blend of beet seeds. This easy to grow vegetable may be eaten from foliage to root. Beets can grow in cool months and can take some frost. Beets are high in Vitamin C, folic acid, antioxidants, minerals, fibre, and potassium. They also contain betaine, a compound that is essential for cardiovascular health.

How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days, depending on soil temperature. Optimal soil temperature: 10-26°C.

How To Grow, Seeding: Sow 1cm deep, 5-10cm apart in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm apart when seedlings are 5cm tall. Eat any thinned plants, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

Matures in 50-65 days.

Hybrid vigour brings better germination, fast spring growth, and excellent disease resistance. The large, deep red, round roots are uniform, sweet and tender. Red Ace is a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is resistant to Cercospora. In well-drained, mild winter gardens this variety can be harvested all winter.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days, depending on soil temperature. Optimal soil temperature: 10-26°C.

How To Grow, Seeding: Sow 1cm deep, 5-10cm apart in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm apart when seedlings are 5cm tall. Eat any thinned plants, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

Matures in 55 days.

Approx: 200 Seeds

This improved Detroit Medium Top is known for its deep red roots with smooth skin and medium tops. The tasty, nutritious leaves are dark green with red veins and a small crown. Detroit Supreme beet seeds produce roots with minimal zoning (visible rings in cross section) even in hot weather. Detroit Supreme was bred to be mildew resistant for either processing or fresh market production. Because the roots are so uniform and dark, they look fabulous bunched for the market table. They are particularly nice for pickling, as the brine will turn a very dark red claret colour, and they stay tender but crunchy.

How To Grow, Timing: Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days, depending on soil temperature. Optimal soil temperature: 10-26°C.

How To Grow, Seeding:  Sow 1cm deep, 5-10cm apart in rows 30-45cm apart.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8.  For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm (3-6″) apart when seedlings are 5cm (2″) tall. Eat any thinned plants, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

Matures in 65 days.

Approx: 250 seeds

Ferrari is considered a French filet type bean and has a wonderful flavour. The slim, stringless, round pods develop early on compact plants, and grow to 13cm. This variety has good potential for early starting under cloche protection, and is compact enough for container growing. Ferrari bush bean seeds are resistant to Anthracnose and BCMV, and tolerant to Cucumber Mosaic Virus.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow mid-to late spring. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm—if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide. Sow drying beans as early as possible, so they can mature before rainy/cold weather sets in. Optimal soil temperature: 21-2°C. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow bush bean seeds 2-5cm deep, 5-8cm  apart, in rows 45-60cm apart. Thin to at least 15cm apart in each row. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a longer harvest, plant at 3 week intervals.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If the plants flower but do not set pods, the cause may be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp-based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Matures in 55 days.

Approx: 100 Seeds

These big beans have big flavour. The 15cm pods are broad, flat, stringless, and medium green. The intense flavour of these Italian beans remains even after canning and processing. Or enjoy them straight out of the garden when they are sweet and crisp. Romano beans typically grow on tall vines that need to be supported by canes or trellises. Campo di Fiori Romano bean seeds produce tidy (determinate) bush bean plants that have a shorter harvest window. That is, the beans will all come at once during a two to three week period. The trade off is the convenience of smaller bush plants that will produce well in large containers.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow mid-to late spring. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm—if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide. Sow drying beans as early as possible, so they can mature before rainy/cold weather sets in. Optimal soil temperature: 21-2°C. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow bush bean seeds 2-5cm deep, 5-8cm apart, in rows 45-60cm apart. Thin to at least 15cm apart in each row. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a longer harvest, plant at 3 week intervals.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If the plants flower but do not set pods, the cause may be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp-based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Matures in 58 days.

Approx: 40 Seeds.

These wonderful large beans mature in 75-85 days when sown in the spring, or 6 months if fall sown. The plants grow 90-120cm tall. The light green pods, which contain 6-7 large pale green seeds each, shell easily. Windsor broad bean seeds are superb for family gardens and easy for small children to handle. Broad Windsor is intended for growing as a food crop. The seeds it produces are large and succulent, unlike the small-seeded fava we offer as a cover crop. This large variety will fix nitrogen in your soil, so it’s perfect for planting in the fall, harvesting in the spring, and following with nitrogen loving crops like Brassicas, lettuce, or spinach. Fresh or dried, broad beans must be cooked before eating in order to rid them of potentially toxic alkaloids. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, or cooked like spinach. Broad beans are one of the world’s most ancient and widespread food crops.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow before the first frost date in mild winter areas. Direct sow late winter to mid-spring in other areas (tall, soft plants won’t withstand winter well). Optimal soil temperature: 10-21°C. Enrich the soil with compost prior to planting.

How To Grow, Starting:  Use a broad bean or combination inoculant to provide a source of nitrogen. Sow seed 5cm deep, 15cm apart in double rows. Each set of double rows should be 1m apart. Germination takes 10-14 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5.  Keep overwintered plants weeded. Provide stakes or strings between rows to stop plants from falling over.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick when the pods appear plump and begin to droop from the weight of the seeds. Shell (like peas) and cook or use in soup. For dried beans, wait until the pods start to shrivel.

Matures in 75-85 days.

Approx: 20 Seeds.

Velour dark purple French filet beans grow slender and straight on upright, bush type plants. 12cm high quality beans have a velvety rich colour that really pops when mixed with yellow and green varieties, or with the magenta coloured Celine. Beans hold well on the open plants for an extended harvest.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from mid-spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, the seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 21-32°C. The seeds should sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow seeds 2-5cm deep, 5-8cm apart, in rows 45-60cm apart. Thin to at least 15cm apart in each row. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a continuous harvest, plant at 3 week intervals.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5.  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m (10′) of row. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If the plants flower but do not set pods, the cause may be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp-based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

60 Days.

Approx:110 Seeds.

Matilda pole bean seeds produce big, nicely shaped, round beans with straight pods that average 15cm (6″) long are heavily produced on this variety from German breeding. The flavour is both sweet and mild. Plants are vigorous, productive, and early, but will produce all season long if you keep them well picked. We took harvest after harvest over a long period in summer during our seed trials. The pods have a nice crunch and good flavour raw, cooked, or pickled. They even stand up to blanching and freezing for winter use if any of the summer crop makes it that far.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm apart and 3.5cm deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

How To Grow, Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5.  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer.

Matures in 70 days.

Approx: 75 seeds

This beautiful plant features dark purple leaves and pods that follow attractive, light purple flowers. It makes a very striking and useful screen in the garden. This productive variety flowers before all other beans, and handles cool conditions well. The purple pods keep their flavour and tenderness even when very long, and turn green when cooked. The pods grow to 13cm long and keep their flavour and tenderness long after they are picked. They turn green when cooked. The plants are extremely productive, and the pods just keep coming as long as they are picked. The seeds are beige.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm apart and 3.5cm deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer.

Matures in 70 days.

Approx: 40 seeds.

Blue Lake pole bean seeds produce pods that are straight, stringless and unusually smooth, with a stronger flavour than the bush variety. Plants bear lots of dark green pods that are round to oval, tender and meaty, 15-18cm long. Blue Lake has a very long harvest window, and will keep producing new pods as long as the vines are kept picked. Provide a pole or trellis for this tall vine to grow up. This variety is hugely popular for its productivity in the Prairies and other short season growing regions.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C.

How To Grow, Starting:  Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm apart and 3.5cm deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Because pole beans are always climbing, there are always beans at different stages of maturity. It is important to keep picking regularly so the plant does not fully mature seeds and stop producing new pods. If pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering. The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Matures in 70 days.

Approx: 55 Seeds

This French filet type bean has superb flavour. The tender, uniform, 10cm long beans are produced in abundant yields on tidy, upright plants. The plants’ petite size make them a good choice for containers. Masai bush bean is resistant to BCMV, and tolerant to Curly Top virus, bacterial brown spot, and halo blight. The beans are produced in a concentrated set on the upper half of the plants, so they are easy to see and harvest. Try some in the balcony vegetable garden or community plot.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow mid-to late spring. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm—if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide. Sow drying beans as early as possible, so they can mature before rainy/cold weather sets in. Optimal soil temperature: 21-2°C. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow bush bean seeds 2-5cm deep, 5-8cm apart, in rows 45-60cm apart. Thin to at least 15cm apart in each row. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a longer harvest, plant at 3 week intervals.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5  Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If the plants flower but do not set pods, the cause may be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp-based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Matures in 55 days.

Approx: 120 Seeds.

This AAS Winner is celebrated for its compact size and suitability for container growing. Even in a window box, this French filet bean will produce high yields of 13-15cm long pods that have excellent flavour and a crunchy texture. Mascotte bush bean seeds produce plants that are highly resistant to BCMV, Anthracnose, and halo blight.

How To Grow, Timing:  Direct sow mid-to late spring. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm—if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide. Sow drying beans as early as possible, so they can mature before rainy/cold weather sets in. Optimal soil temperature: 21-2°C . Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions.

How To Grow, Starting:  Sow bush bean seeds 2-5cm deep, 5-8cm apart, in rows 45-60cm apart. Thin to at least 15cm apart in each row. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a longer harvest, plant at 3 week intervals.

How To Grow, Growing:  Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5   Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for every 3m of row. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If the plants flower but do not set pods, the cause may be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp-based fertilizer.

How To Grow, Harvest:  Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Matures in 50 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Approx: 50 Seeds.

Extremely productive vines bear dozens of 4-5 inch, little “mini” spaghetti squashes. The semi-compact vines can be trained up a fence/trellis so the little golden squashes hang like ornaments. These little minis cook up quickly, making it fast and easy to fork out their spaghetti like flesh to top with pizza sauce or a little butter and grated cheese for a quick, nutritious and low-calorie dish. After harvest, these little squashes store very well to enjoy for many good meals.
Seed Count: Approx. 30

BEST TO START OUTDOORS
Winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C) day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 feet apart and 1 inch deep in rows 4 feet apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 feet across and 6 feet apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill.

GROWING NOTES
Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, removing before plants get crowded. To make picking easier and save space, vines can be trained up trellises or tepees.

HARVEST AND USE
All winter squashes need to mature properly, so wait to pick until rinds are fully colored up from dark green to bright yellow-orange. and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail and vines have died back. Then cut, leaving a good stem handle. Let them cure for 10 days in the sun, then store in a cool dry place and they’ll keep for months.

In the kitchen, cut Baby Spaghettis in half and scoop out the seeds, then bake until tender. Fork up the spaghetti-like strands of tender, nutty squash, then top with your favorite sauce or a dollop of butter and a sprinkle of salt.

Our signature mix is a true watercolor palette of beautiful and scrumptious lettuce choices. Their pretty leaves with well-balanced tastes and luscious textures grow all together to harvest quickly by simply cutting with scissors for your own sumptuous salads. Includes vivid leaf lettuces, crisp French batavian, baby romaine and frilly bright crinkle lettuce. A beautifully composed mixture created for us by Forni-Brown, gourmet salad growers for California wine country restaurants.

Equal parts: Little Gem, Dutch Redina, Rouge Grenobloise, Red Salad Bowl and Tango

35 Days.
Seed Count: Approx. 2000

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In cool early spring weather, sow seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Shake seeds from the palm of your hand, broadcasting them about a 1/2 -1 inch apart over the entire seedbed or in wide rows, and cover lightly and evenly with 1/4 inch of fine soil. Firm soil gently and water with a fine spray. Keep seedbed evenly moist. Make small successive sowings until summer weather turns hot for a constant supply. Plant again in late summer for fall harvesting.

GROWING NOTES

Mesclun lettuces thrive in mild weather with consistent moisture. To extend the sowing season into hot weather, sow in light shade or erect a canopy of loosely woven shade cloth over the mesclun bed. Birds are often attracted to tender young seedlings, so protect them if necessary.

HARVEST AND USE

To harvest by the “cut and come again” method, wait until plants are 4 or 5 inches tall. Cut as much lettuce as you need, using scissors to shear off a patch of leaves 1 to 2 inches above the soil level. Water well and fertilize lightly and plants will regrow for several more cuttings. Dress with a simple vinaigrette to enjoy the sweet flavor and juicy texture of these delicate young leaves at their best.

These tender, sweet and beautiful lettuces draw raves at our local farmers market where baskets of the young leaves tempt the eye and appetite. After careful evaluation, we’ve blended the most delicious varieties for a balanced palette of colors, shapes and textures. Includes frilly, lime-green Tango, upright green Little Gem, crimson and green Cimarron and burgundy Outredgeous. Cut young leaves often for scrumptious salads that are pretty as a picture in the garden and at the table. Little Gem, Tango, Outredgeous, Cimarron.

START SEEDS OUTDOORS
In cool early spring weather, sow seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Shake seeds from the palm of your hand, broadcasting them about 1/2 inch apart over the entire seedbed or in wide rows, and cover lightly and evenly with 1/4 inch of fine soil. Firm soil gently and water with a fine spray. Keep seedbed evenly moist. Make small successive sowings until summer weather turns hot for a constant supply. Plant again in late summer for fall harvesting.

GROWING NOTES
Mixed lettuces thrive in mild weather with consistent moisture. To extend the sowing season into hot weather, sow in light shade or erect a canopy of loosely woven shade cloth over the bed. Birds are often attracted to tender young seedlings, so protect them if necessary.

HARVEST AND USE
To harvest by the “cut and come again” method, wait until plants are 4 or 5 inches tall. Cut as much lettuce as you need, using scissors to shear off a patch of leaves 1 to 2 inches above the soil level. Water well and fertilize lightly and plants will regrow for several more cuttings. Dress with a simple vinaigrette to enjoy the sweet flavor and juicy texture of these delicate young leaves at their best.

Expand your seasonal salad repertoire with the delicious textures and full flavors of these cold weather loving, cool season beauties. Mild and nutty French curly endive has finely-cut, delicate, lacy leaves with crispy ribs and creamy hearts. Luxuriant escarole produces satiny rosettes of crunchy outer leaves that fold closely around tender-sweet dense hearts. Toss them together with the tangy leaves of tart red radicchio and you’ll have wonderful continental-style salads of substance and character.
Equal parts;  Glory Endive,  Elysee Escarole,  Presto Radicchio

80 Days.

Approx: 320 Seeds.

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

At midsummer, or early fall in mild climates, sow seeds in a sunny garden bed 1/4 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Or, if it is still over 80°F (27°C) at sowing time, sow seeds in containers in a spot out of direct sun, but with bright light all day. Tend carefully and keep evenly moist. When seedlings are a few inches tall with several sets of leaves, transplant into the garden a foot apart. Gradually thin directly sown seedlings to stand 1 foot apart to allow heads room to mature.

GROWING NOTES

Savor earliest thinnings in fall salads. Cool weather will bring vigorous growth. These tasty greens tolerate cold weather and light frosts well but require consistent moisture. Weed, water and thin carefully and feed monthly for best quality salad heads.

HARVEST AND USE

Radicchio is best harvested when red heads have formed inside the outer green “wrapper” leaves. Pick entire heavy rosettes of escarole and curly endive. Cut up and enjoy these hearty salads with either simple vinaigrettes or rich, creamy dressings. Try tossed with cooked chicken, meat or cubed cheese and olives for delicious whole meal salads. Add toasted nuts and cubed apples or pears for a delicious flavor contrast.

We fell in love with this delicious salad while hunting for varieties in Emilia-Romagna. The authentic regional mixture features a blend of tangy traditional cutting chicories and crispy little endives, nicely balanced by milder green and red leaf lettuces. Sow the seed densely, wait just over a month, then harvest with scissors at 4 to 5 inches tall to experience all the mouth-pleasing full flavors, textures and pretty colors that are so characteristic of rustic Italian cuisine.

Zuccherina & Spadona Chicories, Pancalieri & Curo Pleno Endives, Ubriacona Frastagliata & Red Leaf Italian Lettuces

45 Days.

Approx: 2700 Seeds.

START SEEDS OUTDOORS

In early spring or in midsummer for fall harvests, sow seeds in finely worked soil in full sun. Shake seeds from the palm of your hand, broadcasting them about a half inch apart over the entire seedbed or in wide rows, and cover lightly and evenly with 1/4 inch of fine soil. Firm soil gently and water in with a fine spray. Keep seedbed evenly moist.

GROWING NOTES

This full flavored Italian salad mix thrives in mild weather with consistent moisture. To extend the sowing season into hot weather, sow in light shade or erect a canopy of loosely woven shade cloth over the seed bed. Birds are often attracted to tender young seedlings so protect them if necessary.

HARVEST AND USE

To harvest by the “cut and come again” method, wait until plants are 4 or 5 inches tall. Cut as much as you need, using scissors to shear off a patch of leaves 1 to 2 inches above the soil level. Water well and fertilize lightly and plants will regrow for several more cuttings. Dress with a simple vinaigrette that has a touch of honey added to set off the complex full flavors of this piquant mix. Misticanza has sharp tangy components, so if it tastes too strong-flavored for diners’ palates, add additional lettuces to mellow the mix.